Counting The Sick Days

ANN LANDERS

July 8, 1997|ANN LANDERS Syndicated Columnist

Dear Ann Landers: This letter is for ``Bob in Dallas,'' who complained about people coming to work sick.

In my office, every worker is allowed a set number of sick days per year. These days can be used for when the employee is sick or when he or she must stay home with a member of the family. A sick person who comes to work may have used up all his sick days on an invalid parent, an ill child or a disabled spouse. Or the worker may have had all three of those problems, like I have. Yes, I have gone to work with a terrible cold so I could save those precious sick days for when they are absolutely necessary. I wonder if ``Bob in Dallas'' owns the company or is one of those rare birds who never gets sick. - Only Human in Kentucky

Dear Kentucky: Reader response to the letter from ``Bob in Dallas'' was a mixed bag. Many wrote angrily, describing how they had caught everything from the flu to whooping cough, which can be no joke for an adult. The most adamant were office employees whose desks were ``close together.'' Keep reading for more on this subject:

From Miami: I work in a hospital. We have a specified number of personal leave days that can be used for vacation, illness or whatever. Calling in sick is counted as an ``unexcused'' absence. Six such occurrences a year can make an employee subject to disciplinary action. Is it any wonder we drag ourselves in regardless of how lousy we feel? No one wants to work sick and infect others, but we don't want to risk losing our jobs either. There's got to be a better way. St. Louis: I am a third-grade teacher in a public school. I'd like to say a few words about mothers who send their sick kids to school. Yes, I realize sometimes there is no one to leave the sick child with and the mom doesn't want to get docked for missing work, but it is really lousy when a kid with chicken pox comes to school and gives it to 12 other kids. This happened in my class just last year. I knew that child was sick and sent him to the school nurse, but it was too late. Can you suggest a solution to this problem, Ann? I'll bet millions of mothers would be grateful.

Dear St. Louis: Every working parent should have alternative child care available in cases of an emergency. This should be worked out well before the school year begins.